All the surrounding lights went out, leaving only the LED strips around the mirrors and glass walls glowing faintly.
Zhen-yan looked at the darkness and said, "The game has begun."
Then, he walked forward.
Soo-mi held the map in one hand and cautiously felt her way ahead with the other.
Player 9 (Blue Team) was walking when suddenly someone appeared in front of him.
He asked, "Who's there?"
Because of the dim lighting, Player 9 couldn't see the person's face clearly.
The figure slowly approached. Player 9 backed away in fear.
Suddenly, the silhouette vanished.
Player 9 stared ahead, tense and alert.
Then, Yoo-hyun suddenly rushed from behind him with a baseball bat.
He swung down hard, but Player 9 dodged. The bat smashed a mirror instead.
Player 9 started running.
Yoo-hyun shouted, "Don't f***ing run!"
Elsewhere, Player 131 spotted someone from the Yellow Team, but just as he approached, they vanished again. He turned around — a Red Team member appeared right behind him. Luckily, the mirror between them was one-way, so the Red Team member couldn't see Player 131.
Soo-mi was walking when she suddenly bumped into Da-qiang.
Da-qiang sneered, "Hello, fatty's friend."
Soo-mi couldn't hold it anymore."Bastard!" she yelled and slammed into him.
Da-qiang winced and reached for his bat, but Soo-mi snatched it first.
She raised it and smashed downward. Da-qiang dodged, and she shattered a pane of glass.
Da-qiang took the opportunity to grab the bat back. Soo-mi picked up a sharp shard of glass from the ground.
Da-qiang roared, "You crazy b***h!"
He swung the bat at her. Soo-mi cried out in pain and collapsed. As he prepared to strike again, Soo-mi stabbed his leg with the glass shard.
Then she thrust it into his abdomen and shoved him over.
Panting, she glared at him:"You really are… just full of hot air!"
Then, she stabbed his neck. Once, twice.
And just like that, Da-qiang was dead.
Soo-mi collapsed to the ground, whispering:"I… I've avenged you."
The timer ticked to 23:36.
Elsewhere, Yoo-hyun had just broken Player 9's leg.
Looking at the helpless body, he sneered,"Why aren't you running now?"
He chuckled menacingly and bashed Player 9's skull with the bat.
Broadcast:"Player 9, eliminated. Player 239, cleared."
Zhen-yan heard that Player 239 had cleared and picked up his pace, searching for Blue Team members.
Then, Player 131 suddenly appeared in front of him.
Zhen-yan jumped back, startled:"F**k! You scared me!"
131 said, "Quick, shake my hand!"
They grasped hands.
Broadcast:"Player 131, cleared."
Yoo-hyun continued walking and soon encountered another Blue Team player.
As he stepped forward, Player 304 exclaimed, "Wait, wait! Didn't the broadcast say you already cleared?!"
Yoo-hyun said,"Killing you means fewer Red Team idiots in the prize pool. Win-win, don't you think?"
He grinned.
Then — CRACK — the bat came down on Player 304's skull. Blood splattered across the glass.
Scene change. Player 370 spotted a Blue Team member behind a mirror.
He smashed the glass and killed Player 78.
Far off, Player 99 witnessed the entire scene.
Broadcast:"Player 78, eliminated. Player 370, cleared."
Time: 19:47.
Not long after, Zhen-yan encountered Young-jun.
Young-jun ignored him and tried to walk past.
Suddenly, Zhen-yan locked him in a chokehold. Young-jun struggled, elbowing him in the gut. Zhen-yan released him in pain.
Young-jun stood up, shouting,"What the hell is your problem?!"
Zhen-yan growled,"The rules never said hens couldn't attack eagles."
He grabbed a glass shard.
Young-jun swung his bat — Zhen-yan caught it with both hands and stabbed Young-jun in the gut.
Young-jun staggered back, holding the wound, staring in disbelief.
Zhen-yan shouted,"F***ing bastard!"
And stabbed his neck. Young-jun collapsed in a pool of blood.
Zhen-yan looked down at his blood-stained hands.
Elsewhere, Soo-mi was still holding her map.
Suddenly, Jung-hyuk appeared before her.
He extended his hand.
Broadcast:"Player 329, cleared."
Time: 10:12.
Bei-bei walked forward and ran into Player 221.
Bei-bei said nervously,"Wait… Wait…"
221 said,"I'm sorry."
Bei-bei screamed,"No! Don't!"
221 swung his bat — Bei-bei blocked it with all his strength.
While they struggled, Zhen-yan came from behind and strangled 221 until he stopped breathing.
Player 18 pulled Bei-bei up and shook hands.
Broadcast:"Player 62, cleared. Player 18, cleared."
Meanwhile, Yoo-hyun had already killed several others.
Elsewhere, Player 68 was just about to shake hands with Player 80 when Player 453 rushed in.
He smashed the bat down on Player 80 — again and again.
Broadcast:"Player 453, cleared."
453 turned to 68.
68 asked,"Wh… What are you doing?"
453 said coldly,"Fewer people might actually be better."
Then swung at Player 68.
Scene change. 7:39 remaining.
Jung-hyuk was searching for one last handshake.
Suddenly, Player 177 (Blue Team) appeared.
Jung-hyuk flinched.
Just as he extended his hand, 177 punched him square in the face.
Jung-hyuk hit the ground, dazed.
"What the hell?!"
177 sneered,"I prefer shaking hands with corpses."
He raised a shard of glass and lunged.
Jung-hyuk scrambled to dodge. As 177 stabbed again, Jung-hyuk caught his wrist and disarmed him.
He was about to counter when 177 drew another shard and stabbed Jung-hyuk's hand.
Blood dripped onto his face.
Jung-hyuk struggled to hold on — when suddenly, from behind 177, a slash of blood spurted out.
He was stabbed again — and again.
177 collapsed.
Behind him stood Player 262.
262 helped Jung-hyuk to his feet and shook his hand.
Broadcast:"Player 262, cleared. Player 357, cleared."
Elsewhere, Player 68 picked up a shard and stabbed 453's neck from behind.
453 collapsed.
Not long after, 68 found a Blue Team member and shook hands.
Broadcast:"Player 153, cleared. Player 68, cleared."
Time: 3:57.
As Jung-hyuk exited the maze, he saw Young-jun lying in a pool of blood.
His eyes widened in horror.
He rushed over and cradled the corpse, sobbing in anguish:"YOUNG-JUN… no… please no… don't die on me!"
262 stood silently nearby, heart aching.
A soft beep echoed.
Time was up. The game had ended.
Still inside the mirror maze, Player 79 stood frozen.
He looked into the mirror and saw a masked man behind him.
Trembling, he whispered,"I'm screwed…"
BANG.
"Player 79, eliminated."